By Torquay United Fans, For Torquay United Fans

The TT Blog 17th March 2020

“The virus is a huge reminder for us all that normal life and good times should never be taken for granted”

The Ed blogs about TUFC

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that”. – Bill Shankly. One of the most famous quotes from any football person ever, and a sure sign of his passion for taking Liverpool FC to the top of the English game.

Was the quote just entertaining bluster from the great man or something more sincere? I’m not sure, but we all know in our hearts that’s not the truth (or I hope we do..). The coronavirus looms large in all our lives at the moment and uncertain times lie ahead – kicking a football around should move down everybody’s priority list.

Now I’m a sports obsessive, so losing football and whatever else for months on end is something that’s hard to swallow (I’ll no doubt be found aimlessly clicking through the channels in the late evening looking for any half decent sport to fill my time). But even for someone like me I have to take a step back and remind myself of what’s really important, what our world is really all about and that’s the health and well-being of everybody.

Meanwhile the debate about the delay of the football season dominates many discussions on social media. Liverpool’s latest manager Jurgen Klopp’s statement last week was telling and a real credit to the German as a humane character full of heart. His team are on the cusp of title glory but his statement was dominated by talk of us looking after each other. “If only one person’s health is saved by the football being suspended then it’s worth it”. A very modern manager in very weird and unsettling times.

The virus is a huge reminder for us all that normal life and good times should never be taken for granted. For me I have often let the beautiful game dominate my life and like many men struggle to talk about anything else. This has left me not overly skilful at concentrating on other matters (work included), and searching Sky Sports News before BBC News – as I often overlook the real world and it’s troubles in favour of sport and it’s more light-hearted soap opera. Meanwhile checking Yellows banter on Twitter distracts me from listening to the wife (“You didn’t hear me then did you?….ummm….”), I don’t mean to be like that – it’s just the way I’m tuned!

So what I am saying?? Use this non-football time to enjoy the company of your loved ones, and let the cards regarding an end to the season 2019-20 fall where they may. Sports will have to fall in with how society is coping. The main thing is pulling through these trying months together.

This will be a difficult period for clubs like Torquay United. Will we get financial help from higher up the pyramid and the authorities who run our game? I doubt it, but who knows. If the season is cancelled then I won’t be asking for a refund on my season ticket and the games I’ve missed, demands like that can only put the club in more debt and more risk.

The TT WhatsApp group is already beginning to feel like a support group to help push us through without the footie (example question “which current player would you least like to be isolated with?”)! And we’ll try and bring you plenty of articles to fill the space left in our calendars, fitness permitting. Maybe we’ll all end up being more rounded and open-minded individuals once this corona storm has calmed over, and maybe we’ll realise that our team losing football matches doesn’t constitute a disaster. I’ll keep you on track with how I’m doing! It’s time to earn my family man stripes and grow up. Wish me luck…

PS – Just think how good any football will be on it’s return, every goal will feel like Xmas!